What's New

This page describes recent changes in xShape Design.

This page discusses:

R2022x FD01 (FP.2205)

Visualizing Geometries Using the Perspective Mode

You can visualize geometries in the 3D area using the parallel or perspective mode. By default, the perspective mode is selected.


Benefits: You can define the same view mode as in the other apps you are working in.
For more information, see Customizing the View Modes

Shift Selection Improved Capability

Shift + selection now works on entities (faces, edges, or vertices) that do not lie in the same loop or ring on the mesh. It gives priority to the shortest distance between the two selections across the 3D mesh.
Benefits: Shift + selection earlier worked on entities that fell within the same loop or ring only. Now it provides a result even if the selected entities do not fall into the same mesh loop or ring.

Align Cage Points Command Toolbar

Align Cage Points command toolbar is enhanced to include all the alignment types in the command toolbar.
With Align Cage Points command active, click to switch to the command toolbar and click to navigate back to the full dialog box.
Benefits: You can now manage your selections from the command toolbar without expanding the full dialog box.
For more information, see Align and Quick Align Points on the Subdivision Mesh

Enable Chain Selection for Convert Entity and Projection Curve

You can now use the new Select Chain context toolbar option to project and copy an entire chain of linked sketch entities or edges while converting sketch entities and creating projection curves.
Benefits: Converting entities and producing project curves is now faster due to the chain selection of sketch entities.
For more information, see Converting External Geometries and Sketches

Roll Back Behavior Improvements

After you finish editing a feature in a nonactive OGS set in the tree, the rollback shifts to its last position in the previously active set.
Benefits: The manual rollback to the previously active set is no longer required.
For more information, see Rolling Back Features in the Design Tree

Updated Context Toolbar in the Sketch Environment

The context toolbar, when sketching in the work area, now provides the additional commands such as Extrude , Normal To , and Hide . In addition to this update, the touch toolbar also displays the Normal To feature.
Benefits: It is now easy for users sketching in the touch environment to use the Extrude , Normal To , and Show/Hide features.
For more information, see Tablet or Mobile Device Option Context Toolbars

Working with User Parameters

You can now create parameters and define their values.
Benefits: User parameters can be very handy because they can be:
  • Defined or constrained by relations
  • Used as the arguments of a relation
For more information, see Working with Parameters

Loft

You can now choose close the loft when you have selected either or both, Spine curve and Guide curve.
Benefits: You can close the Loft functionality by connecting the first and last sections, while using either or both, Spine Curve and Guide Curve.
For more information, see Loft and Loft Cut

Create construction geometry while sketching

You can now create a construction entity while sketching.
Benefits: You can enable the Construction mode to create construction geometry while sketching. The standard sketch enables, when the Construction mode is turned OFF.
For more information, see Working in Sketches

Import Revit files

You can now import geometry in the Revit file format.
Benefits: You can import Revit (*.rvt, *.rfa) files into the workarea of the app. The Revit files do not have any configurations to choose from.
For more information, see Working in Sketches

Restoring Unsaved Changes While Opening Models from Recent Content

You can now restore your unsaved changes even if you open your model from Recent Content on the home page.
Benefits: You can now choose if you want to open the restored version or revert to the permanently saved version.

Converting a Picture to a Sketch

You can convert an inserted picture into a 2D sketch.
Benefits: Converting a sketch allows you to more quickly create geometry from a picture by determining the edges of an object of interest and converting those edges to graphical entities which in turn are made into a 2D sketch.
For more information, see Converting a Picture to a Sketch

Print 3D Feature Enhancements

You can reposition and select geometries to exclude from the print envelope, and automatically orient geometries when using powder bed fusion 3D printers. Additional 3D printers manufactures are available, and selectable by the manufacture and technology.
Benefits: You can start the Print 3D command and select component geometries to remove from the print envelope. Just the visible geometries print. The Robot is available for rotating and positioning the geometry that works best for the print envelope.
For more information, see Printing 3D Models

Command Parking

You can temporarily park the current feature and create a reference or sketch entity to use in the dialog box of the parked feature without losing your work.
Benefits: You can park the open feature and create or edit a sketch or create a reference plane, then resume with the parked feature.
For more information, see Command Parking

Keyboard Shortcuts Displayed in Tooltips

You can display the keyboard shortcut in the tooltip for most commands when you hover your mouse over the command.
Benefits: Instead of clicking the command in the action bar with the mouse pointer, you can enter the command using a key or combination of keys from the keyboard. Hover over the command to display the shortcut in the title (top) of the tooltip.
For more information, see Keyboard Shortcuts

R2022x GA

Using Shortcut Rings

You can use the shortcut ring to access and use commonly used commands on elements directly from the 3D area.
Benefits: Shortcut rings let you design models more easily and more quickly.
For more information, see Shortcut Rings

Creating Flexible Subassemblies

You can now create repositionable subassemblies using the Flexibility context toolbar option that you can access from the Design Manager Tree.
Benefits: You can make subassembly components flexible in their parent assembly. You can use the flexible components in another parent assembly while keeping their ability intact.
For more information, see Making Subassemblies Flexible

Specifying a Mouse Control

Three preferences are now available to let you select a mouse profile for manipulating viewpoints in your dashboard app: CATIA, SOLIDWORKS, and 3DEXPERIENCE.
To specify this option:
  1. Select Me > Preferences.
  2. From the Mouse Control area, select the required option. By default, 3DEXPERIENCE is selected.
Benefits: You can gain easier access to viewpoints in your dashboard app by specifying the mouse profile option that best fits your needs.
For more information, see Mouse Controls

Displaying Sketch Offset Dimension

You can now see the sketch offset dimension in the dialog box callout.
Benefits: The sketch offset dimension is now available more easily.
For more information, see Sketch Offset

Verifying the Quality of Meshes

You can check a mesh for any intersecting element or opening.
Benefits: You can better handle errors for self-intersecting meshes.
For more information, see Mesh Inspection

Opening Components without Subcomponents

When you import or open a component with no subcomponent, the component displays as in the tree.
Benefits: You can now distinguish the components with subcomponents from the components without subcomponents in the tree.

Using the Design Assistant

While creating your model, a new Design Assistant icon is displayed when similar command suggestions are available.
Benefits: This new icon is easier to identify from other toolbar commands.
For more information, see About Design Assistance for Sketch

Printing a 3D Model

You can now offset the selected base to fit the model into the print envelope of the 3D printer. You can also use new options to detect clearance, hollows, and thin walls in the model.
Benefits: These changes help align the model properly within the 3D printer's envelope and identify potential print problems.
For more information, see Printing 3D Models

Importing and Exporting Geometry

You can now import or export geometry from or to an .acis file format.
Benefits: The .acis format gives the flexibility to import or export a geometry from or to *.sat, *.sab, *.asat, and *.asab files.
For more information, see Importing Geometry Exporting Geometry

Enhancing the Measure Tool

The User Interface and workflow of the Measure tool is enhanced.
Benefits: The Measure tool is enhanced and works more easily and more quickly.
For more information, see Measure

Converting Pictures Into a Sketch

You can now convert an inserted picture into a 2D sketch.
Benefits: This supports the conversion of legacy data, the modeling of purchased parts that do not have 3D models but have PDFs or DXF/DWG data, and the creation of geometry from hand sketches and of photos.